SEASIDE HEIGHTS — Gov. Chris Christie this morning joined a parade of celebrities on the Today show for a three-hour-long love letter to the Jersey Shore intended to woo tourists nearly seven months after Sandy struck.

“For 80 percent of the Jersey Shore, you won’t notice any difference at all from last summer,” Christie told host Matt Lauer as they strolled the boardwalk. “Where we’re standing now, there’s differences and that’s what we have to work on over the next year.”

While businesses are ready for the unofficial Memorial Day weekend summer kickoff, when asked to rate the recovery on a scale of 1 to 10, Christie acknowledged that many homeowners are still struggling.

“It’s an 8 in some places and a 4 in others so it depends,” Christie said. “Here on the boardwalk people will see an 8 out of 10 when they start coming here in June, but for a lot of homeowners in the state it’s going to take the better part of the next year.”

Light rain fell on the more than 5,000 people who lined the boardwalk near Casino Pier and hundreds more who stood on the beach in front of a stage set up for the pop band Fun, whose guitarist spent childhood summers on Long Beach Island.

Barbara Farley, the wife of a Seaside Heights police officer, went to the Fun show with their three children and her sister-in-law, Karin Killian and her three children.

“It’s amazing,” Farley said of the progress of the Shore since the hurricane. “It’s still hard to drive down (Route) 35 sometimes, but knowing they’re going to be open for the weekend is an exciting thing.”

Killian, whose bayside house in Seaside Park was flooded with four feet of water in the storm, said The Today Show and Christie’s appearance is a much-needed boost.

“It really helps the town out. As much as there’s positive development, we need to keep the focus on the homeowners” who are still trying to recover, she said.

The NBC broadcast coincided with a federally funded $25 million "Stronger Than the Shore" marketing campaign, that includes everything from slick television commercials to a ceremonial ribbon cutting that set a world record. After the show, Christie hit Point Pleasant and more stops are planned for the weekend.

On Tuesday, Christie will lead President Obama on his second trip to New Jersey since the Oct. 29 hurricane. Images from the first visit became synonymous with Christie’s bipartisan storm response, even though his praise for Obama irritated some Republicans.

“The matter is he’s the President of the United States,” Christie said today when asked about the political implications of another presidential visit. “If he wants to come here and see the people of New Jersey, I’m the governor and I’ll be here to welcome him.”

Lauer pressed Christie for his reaction to experts who say Hurricane Sandy was more severe that it might have been if not for climate change.

“First of all this is their business, this stuff that they say. Probably, Maybe. I haven’t seen any definitive proof,” Christie said. “This is a distraction. I’ve got a state to rebuild here and people want to talk to me about esoteric theories. We’ve got plenty of time to do that later on and study that.”

In a 2011 veto of a bill that would have required New Jersey to stay in a regional program intended to curb greenhouse gases, Christie said "climate change is real." He added that "human activity plays a role in these changes" and that climate change is "impacting our state."

Commercial breaks from the broadcast also reminded viewers that Christie is seeking re-election. His latest negative ad against likely challenger, state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), aired three times in Philadelphia and New York markets.

After the Lauer interview, the broadcast took on a lighthearted turn with segments on sunscreen and the best shore gadgets as well as the best of boardwalk fare. There was footage of Al Roker playing skee ball and kids craft time with Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and the musician Kevin Jonas, a Bergen County native. The cast from MTV's "Jersey Shore" was there, too.

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Lauer said Atlantic City, home to the state’s first boardwalk, came up with the Miss America pageant as a way to keep vacationers at the shore past Labor Day. Wildwood's doo wop hotels and the Stone Pony in Asbury Park also got shout-outs.

Craig Newell of Brant Beach on Long Beach Island caught the attention of Christie, who announced to his handlers he wanted to take a picture with the Elvis impersonator. Newell gave Christie his glasses, which he promptly put on.

“He’s the king of New Jersey,” Newell said.

In a taped spot showing her first trip to the Shore, Food Network host Giada De Laurentiis tasted everything from oysters to salt water taffy and then served Mary Pat Christie and Lauer live at the Midway Steak House.

The state’s first lady said a portion of the proceeds from National Dine Out day on June 19 will fund her relief efforts — the fundraiser could add $5 million to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

Mary Pat Christie also tried a fried Oreo for the first time, declaring the gooey treat “delicious” but “so dangerous.”